Casket table



July 1, 1952 E. CONNALLY CASKET TABLE Filed Sept. 15, 1950 Ernesf L. Cannal/y INVENTOR.

Patented July 1, 1952 p UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Y M f 2,601,714

CASKET TABLE Ernest L. Ccnnally, Waco, Tex.

Application September 15, 1950, Serial No. 185,080

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in casket tables.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved casket table for use at graves, whereby a more adaptable and simple device for supporting caskets is had.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved casket table having arched end supports and longitudinal supporting rails having their ends carried on the supports and movable laterally, outwardly and downwardly, when the casket is lifted therefrom, whereby clearance is provided on each side of the casket so that the latter may be freely lowered-into the grave.

A further object of the invention is to provide .an improved casket table arranged to adequately support a casket over an open grave and capable of being readilyand convenientlydisassem bled or knocked down so as to be conveniently transported and stored.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved casket table which when assembled will be adequately rigid and convenient and which may be easily disassembled for transportation and storage.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein 4 Claims. (c1..-z7--zs) an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled casket table constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view of the table,

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of one of the end supports for the rails, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the rollers and its support.

In the drawing the numeral IO designates an arched transverse end member or support, which is duplicated at each end of the table. Each end member includes a metallic arch ll, preferably made of bar metal and including a horizontal, top section l2 having downwardly and outwardly inclined legs 13, at each end, curved downwardly therefrom. The bottom of each leg is embedded in a base block I4 which is preferably rectangular in cross-section. These blocks may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, cement, plastic composition or other suittable;

able material. The two blocks of each end memher are connected by a transverse tie strap l5 having its ends hooked over pins 16, projecting from the outer faces of said blocks adjacent the inner sides thereof.

The end members HIV are spaced apart and connected by reach bars ll having their ends hooked over pins 18, projecting from the outer faces of the blocks- It will be observed that the base blocks M with the tie straps l5 and the reach bars I 1, form a rectangular base having suificient rigidity to maintain the table.

Longitudinal top rails or stringers I19 connect the top sections [2 of the arched members, being at the ends of said sections on each side of the The stringers are spaced apart sufficiently to adequately support loads placed thereon. The ends of the depending flanges of the stringer are cut out at each end below the top of each stringer to form notches 20 and the top of the stringer at each end, is bent downwardly to form a keeper or hook 2|, which snugly engages the outer face of the top section l2. Thus it may be said the stringers are provided at each end with hooks formed by the tops of the notches 20 and the depending keepers 2| or with merely notched ends formed by said keepers and the notches. The notches and keepers are formed in such dimensions as to snugly embrace the arches of the end members.

Each stringer is formed in its flat top flange with spaced, rectangular openings 22 and rollers 23, of metal, wood, or other material, are journaled in the flanges of the stringers. Each roller, as is best shown in Fig. 5, is located so as to project a short distance above the face of the top member of each stringer. The casket may be rested on the rollers at one end of the table and then moved longitudinally onto the other rollers to its final position.

It may occur that the ground is not level or that for some reason the stringers are not level. Near one end, on the outer side of each stringer I9, a stop lug 24 is pivoted on a pin 25 projecting outwardly from the depending side of said stringer. When the lug is not in use it is swung into line with the stringer so as to rest on a stud 26 and when in use. said lug is swung upwardly to an upright position so as to be abutted by the end of the casket. The lug is fitted close to the side of the stringer and rests against a stud 21 in its upright position. When the casket is slid onto the table it will be arrested by the upright lug and thereby correctly positioned over the grave.

In using the table it is assembled and placed over the open grave, the latter being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The casket is placed on one end of the table and slid forwardly on the rollers 23 until the desired position is reached. The usual lifting bands (not shown) are passed between the bottom of the casket and stringers I9, intermediate the rollers. When it is desired to lower the casket into the grave, it is lifted by the liftin bands which free the stringers I9. The stringers are then moved outwardly and slid down the legs I3 so as to rest upon the blocks I4. The top of the grave is thus fully exposed so that the casket may be lowered thereinto.

When the table is removed from the grave, the stringers I9 are disengaged from the .arches II and the reach bars I I are disconnected from the at the graves it is quite convenient to slide the stringers down the legs and out of sight as well as out of the way. v

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knock-down casket table comprising a pair of upright arch end members to be positioned at the head and. foot of an open grave respectively, each of said end members having a substantially horizontal top section with outwardly inclined and downwardly curved legs depending therefrom, and a pair of casket-supporting, longitudinally-extending stringers slidably but detachably connected at their ends with said arch end members, said stringers being spaced on said horizontal top sections when in casket bearing position and being slidable outwardly along said horizontal top sections and down said legs so that a casket may be lowered therebetween.

2. A casket table as set forth in claim 1, with rollers projecting from the tops of the stringers.

3. A casket table as set forth in claim 1, with supporting blocks at the bases of the depending legs and reach bars detachably connecting the supporting blocks.

4. A casket table as set forth in claim 1, with hooks on the ends of the stringers to detachably and slidably engage the arch end members.

ERNEST L. CONNALLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 121,688 Thompson et a1 Dec. 5, 1871 659,751 Messler Oct. 16', 1900 1,550,127 Tschumperlin Aug. 18, 1925 1,631,853 Busey June 7, 1927 1,975,558 Shriveret al Oct. 2, 1934 

